THOUSANDS of people turned out for the Earlsdon Festival - one of Coventry's most popular annual events....

THOUSANDS of people turned out for the Earlsdon Festival - one of Coventry's most popular annual events.

Brilliant sunshine on yesterday's May Day Bank Holiday topped a day of fun for all ages.

Funfair rides, Morris dancers, barber-shop singers, donkey rides and Punch and Judy performances were all part of the festival based on Earlsdon High Street.

Organiser Lauraine Rainsforth even laid on a free shuttle bus service to carry the less mobile from the delights of the craft fair in Earlsdon Methodist Church to the fete in St Barbara's Church in Rochester Road.

Mrs Rainsforth, who has almost single-handedly run the festival since 1993, said: "Last year we attracted 20,000 people and this year it looks as if we'll be well in excess of even that figure."

But she said she did not see herself at the helm next year. The 53-year-old, who lives in Earlsdon, said: "It's all become so big, especially when you consider we only had about 1,200 visitors in our first year.

"I now have a small working party to help me but for the first time we are having to fund the services of four policemen to keep an eye on the event.

"Anyway, next year will be Earlsdon's 150th anniversary, so I expect things will be organised differently."

One of the most popular draws of the day was Phil Hill, who had brought four of his donkeys from their base in Hinckley.

Mr Hill, who spends the summer at the seaside resort of Chapel St Leonards, said: "I had hoped to bring 11 donkeys to the festival but foot-and-mouth problems in Hinckley meant I could only get permission for these four, who who were kept in a different field."

On home ground were the Earlsdon Morris Men, and keeping perfect pitch were the Silver Lining Ladies Barbershop Chorus.

Also on hand to keep people entertained was an antiques fair and barbeque at the Criterion Theatre in Berkeley Road South, clog dancers and rock groups Alter Ego and The Poise, plant sales and members of Coventry's Youth Operatic Group singing extracts from their forthcoming production Annie.